DIY - Car Care & Detailing thread

@ Roy.. did you use above posted detailer ? which shampoo/polish you use ? i must say.. ur car looks awesome....

i use Turtlewax Platinum every month + Hardshell every 4 months.. .. just got Meguiars Gold Liquid polish and Ultimate Quick detailer....i m using Detailer after washing and before waxing.. is it right procedure. ???

That's perfect Roy..Very good result you got there. Your really must use a tire shine too. The 3rd pic really shows the difference between the body & the tires. I think the product you have used is kind of glaze which gives better shine right ? Did you use any polish /wax apart from this ?

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Thanks, but I am too lazy to use a tire shine.. there is so little ROI, you just take it out and it gets all dirty again whereas the body will look good for a couple of days at least if there is no rain. Yes you are right and I did not use any other polish/wax other than the Rain Dance. It gives a glossy wet look when applied.

@ Roy.. did you use above posted detailer ? which shampoo/polish you use ? i must say.. ur car looks awesome....

i m using Detailer after washing and before waxing.. is it right procedure. ???

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Thanks. The shampoo I used has the name F1, but I really doubt if it is the original, got it for Rs.60/- from a local shop.
I use the quick detailer at the end as a finishing touch. The instructions say it can be used in between and at the end.

This week, i was working on clay bar, my sliver ANHC had many black dots(maybe some tar dots or paint, not sure). I was able to remove all of those dots. Clay bar are known to remove paint over spray, so clay bar should work on this.

Some dots needed hard rubbing, but was successful in removing it.

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Is the clay bar abrasive? Would it be advisable to use it on a brand new car?

Is the clay bar abrasive? Would it be advisable to use it on a brand new car?

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Nitin I personally dont recommend using it in a brand new car (it wont do any harm though). It is mainly used to remove pollution. uneven paint etc. You need to apply it only when you feel that your paint surface has become slightly rough. After washing & drying off, put a polythene cover on your hand and wipe it across the paint. If you feel that the surface is rough, you can go for clay bar. This is the kind of test given by some detailers.

I am not a detailing hobbyist or enthusiast, but I thought i will share what little knowledge I have here so that it will be in one thread for easy use of TFI-ans. Please share our knowledge and let us make a data bank of detailing related queries here.

While many people are happy with giving the car to their GDW (gaadi Dhone Waala - term courtesy to my friend Guderian in another forum) for daily wash, there are some people who are not happy with the disdain these people having in handling our cars shining paint surface. If you are one of those and want to do some DIY to keep yuor car shining like new, read on.

What is car detailing?
It is not just washing your car with any available substance and pat srying it, but a rigors process of cleaning your car, washing the car with good care, cleaning the surface aberrations, polishing the paint to restore the finish, waxing the paint to form a protective barrier so that the paint is not affected and using quick detailers\spray waxes to keep the car shining like new.

Now, what is the big deal in washing? Let us take a hose, shower the car with water, soap the car with some shampoo and hose down the leather and pat dry the car. We are done - right? Wrong.

Few things always we need to keep in mind for a good wash:

Wash the car is shade. Never wash the car under hot sun.
Wash the wheels first. Wheels are dirt accumulating magnet and clean them first.
What matters is not the form, but the quality of the car was shampoo
Say no to scrubbers\local sponges
Use 2 bucket technique or use a bucket with a grit guard
Different cloths for different purpose - there is no One size fits for all.
Do not let the car dry in sun.
Sheet of water lets the water run off easily from car.
Use soft cotton or much preferably - micro fiber for drying the car

Let us go a bit deep into washing process.

The common tools we need is a good shady area, good length of hose to water wash the car, 2 buckets, a brush to clean tyre, a good car wash concentrate, wash clothes (preferably wash mitts) and a good quality soft cloths for drying the car.